Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a solemn peace pledge on the 79th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II, emphasizing Japan's commitment to never repeat the tragedy of war. Speaking at a ceremony at the Budokan hall, Kishida reiterated Japan's postwar pacifist resolve and pledged to defend the rules-based international order.
Kishida acknowledged the devastating impact of the war, including the loss of over 3 million Japanese lives, destruction from ground battles in Okinawa, fire-bombings across Japan, and the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. However, he did not address or apologize for Japan's aggression in Asia or the millions of lives lost there.
